It was a close call. After the shadow mare stopped struggling against the golden chains her consciousness began to drift in and out. She was only faintly aware of Midas next to her, too weak to bother asking why he seemed so angry, who the chattering, tearful voice belonged to. Something told her she should remember it, that it was important somehow... To her, but most of all to the creature she had expelled from her body. The foreign tongue that was unleashed into the fading darkness belonged to them both, mattered to the two of them - it was a legacy that needed to be passed on, no matter what her own feelings were on the matter.

But it was so hard to remember why it was important. So hard to keep the eyes open, so hard to keep breathing. Shadow felt like giving up now, she had nothing left to give. With a sigh she let the heavy, heavy lids roll down over amethyst eyes, after a final lingering glance towards the sky, in search for a sliver of moonlight... She didn't find it.

But just as she began to sink down into the darkness, something happened. A different light reached out and wrapped her in a soft embrace, one that enveloped her body and seeped in through the skin. Slowly her aches began to fade. She could feel them melting away one by one, so quickly yet seemingly without effort. Before she knew it the Sleuth was able to open the eyes again, and blinked in surprise as a bleary gaze fell on golden and white flames that licked her skin, dancing almost merrily across the ebony coat and burned her injuries away. When they eventually faded away and returned the desert to its strange, pre-dawn darkness, Skuggi raised the head and looked between the gathered horses, recognizing both Midas and Onni, a stranger filly who looked awkward and decidedly out of place, and... Carnesîr. Of course, how could she forget him. How he had gotten news that her time had come was more than she knew, she had certainly not invited him to attend. However, now that he was here it somehow seemed fitting.

Dizzy and weak from the blood-loss, the blackbird rolled over on her belly and slowly, almost as gingerly as her newborn, got to her feet. Looking around, her gaze almost immediately landed on the tiny figure that stood some strides away from the others. In the gloom it was hard to make out more than the basic features, but to her relief the foal seemed to possess wings, at the very least. It had been one of her greatest fears when trying to guess what her union with a unicorn might produce... what if it became a barren, or simply a horned one like its father? How could she even think about loving something that would keep her grounded for the rest of her life, unable to traverse the heavens like she was born to do?

But, those fears at least were fading now. Her feelings didn't seem to grow as she stared at the frail being. There was no rapid beat of her heart as the little one turned its head and met her gaze with eyes so vividly blue that she could see the color from there, no clenching of the chest or tender affection growing as it tried to walk towards her, only to wobble on the still hardening little feet and fall with a thud into the sand. No, the only emotion Shadow felt as she sighed and slowly padded over to the progeny was a deep weariness, a tired resignation as she accepted that she couldn't get away from this duty or carrying on her bloodline.

"You'll need a name, I suppose" she mumbled and lowered the head to sniff at the dusky head of the babe, reluctant to even touch it but knowing fully well that it would die if she didn't lick it dry. A closer examination revealed that it was a little colt; she noticed as he struggled back up on his feet, encouraged by the warmth and increased circulation of blood as the large tongue massaged the blood and mucus away from his skin. "I think... Kari, will no nicely. Kari of Dragon's Throat; Kari, son of Carnesîr... "

The mare raised her head as her son ducked in under her belly and began to suckle, quietly enduring the foreign sensation despite her wish to just lie down and sleep. Her gaze traveled between the gathered ones, staring defiantly at the unicorn stallion before touching upon her Sultan and Shaman.

"Thank you.." she said quietly, "for my life, Onni... and for your protection, Midas. I'm sorry for not.. telling you." Perhaps she should have. That way they would have been more prepared, wouldn't have panicked and stressed as much to help her... maybe held her back when she decided to fly off on her own and risk her life gathering intelligence that may or may not be of importance.


@[Carnesîr], @[Midas], @[Raeden], @[Onni]